I'm 50 and have a wicked case of ADHD. My past family and professional life has been a mess due to this disease; I have always had great medical providers, but for some reason, I have stopped taking Ritalin on my own and this has been a disaster. I was considered "brain damaged" as a kid. How interesting that I became a USAF pilot and did quite well in grad school with a degree in plasma physics. I accomplished this while on 40 mg of Ritalin a day. I was always ashamed of this; I'm not sure why. When the USAF deployed me as a pilot in the recent Mid-East conflict, I stopped the meds just long enough to clear the drug test then resumed the Ritalin and was decorated for my service. I guess that this makes me a cheater. Anyway, I'm retired and quite "set" financially. Ritalin was/is a wonder drug for me.

I am 40+ and was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. I was suffering from depression. I had a hard time admitting I needed help and asking for help. My psychiatrist helped me stabilize the depression first (with CBT and fluoxetine). Then he told me he wanted to address my attention problems. At first I thought, "What attention problems?" I thought, "How can I have ADHD? I am a grown man?" Then I had a lot of learning to do! Problems I had as a child (constant daydreaming, chronic procrastination, grades that went from A to F overnight) all seemed to make more sense when looking at them through the ADHD lens. My mind is constantly frantically going and going. I thought everyone thinks that way. But I can't sit and read for more than 10 minutes at a time. Speeding down a highway or racetrack on my motorcycle was the only time I could relax and clear my mind. (Relaxing at 110 mph ... that should have been a clue.) I am still very frustrated trying to manage my ADHD. I am struggling to finish a college degree. I've tried Ritalin, Dexedrine, Focalin and Adderall. They help but I metabolize them quickly and so my attention goes up and down and up and down. I wish I could smooth it out more. Friends tell me to try other drugs. There is also a trade off; my most creative ideas come when I am not on the drugs. The drugs help me live in a world dominated by people with Attention Surplus Disorder, but I feel like I am just playing their game until I figure out something else to do. Nonetheless, my life is *definitely* better than when I was undiagnosed and untreated.

I am a teacher and a mother of 2 young girls. I was diagnosed with adult ADHD at age 27 after several years of counseling for anxiety and depression. I tried many medications for depression and anxiety, and then my therapist recommended that I tried Ritalin because much of my depression and anxiety seemed to stem from feelings of disorganization and being overwhelmed by everyday life. I tried Ritalin and I will never forget how it felt like I suddenly had a glimpse of how other people's minds work: I found it easier to prioritize so I could finally use all of the "to do" lists I had made all my life; I was less angry because I was less frustrated with myself all the time; I no longer felt like time was my ever-present enemy because it seemed like the clock had finally slowed down and allowed me to actually accomplish tasks; and most importantly it allowed me to do things for myself that had apparently taken a back burner to other thought impulses that normally stole all of my time and energy; it helped me to see that life is actually manageable, not some crazy race that I was perpetually losing. I was able to go off medication for a few years while I was pregnant and nursing my 2 kids, and I did fairly well with the strategies and insight that I had gained while on Ritalin; but I slowly started spiraling back out of control and recently have started to take Ritalin again. I was hesitant to find a new doctor because I had moved and I was so embarrassed to admit to anyone (especially to myself) that I had ADULT ADHD. My current doctor has really helped me to understand and accept it and I am now more willing to talk to others about it because it has improved my life so immensely. I am so thankful that my original therapist was open-minded enough to consider adult ADHD. I was very lucky and I hope there are more doctors out there who are willing to learn more about ADHD in adults.

Hello I was recently diagnosed with ADD while attending dental school. The overwhelming amount of material made it extremely difficult to concentrate and I am now working with a psychologist with Cognitive Training. Although helpful, I am still opting to take some form of medication. I am your non-traditional student so I have lived all my adult life not knowing I had this condition. I have six years of college prior to being accepted into dental school. I always had to study 24-7, I was told people with ADD can compensate, which I had done in college. It was not until I was having difficulty with keeping up with the vast amount of material did I realize the possibility of having ADD. I watched my three children struggle in college with this condition, once diagnosed and on medication, all three children's lives had changed for the better, they are successful and productive. Many people do not understand this condition, including myself until recently diagnosed. Now everything is clear in regards to my symptoms. I just wish my professors were as in tune with students and ADD. This could have a very negative and positive effect on the students and their goals to succeed.